The Phoenix City Council, with little discussion, voted 6-1 to approve a $5.5 million settlement for the family of Ali Osman, who was killed by police after he threw rocks at a patrol car. Attorney Quacy Smith represented Ali Osman’s family in their legal claim, which had initially sought $85 million in damages from the city and its Police Department.
The claim alleged that Osman’s rights were violated, excessive force was used, and the city was negligent in its hiring and training of officers. It argued that Osman did not pose a threat of death or great bodily harm to the officers and that their use of force was excessive. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office investigated the shooting but did not file charges. This settlement follows a previous one in July when the city paid $1 million to Lillian Cocreham, the mother of George and Emmett Cocreham, who were fatally shot by police.
